By Basant El-Faramawy
Poland has thwarted a potential Russian “provocation” on its border with the Kaliningrad enclave, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday. Polish police and military units were deployed to the northeastern regions of Warmia-Masuria and Podlaskie after border guards observed suspicious activity, including individuals with flashlights, shortly after midnight.
Preventive Measures and Intelligence Warnings
Tusk told reporters that authorities mobilized forces quickly to prevent a provocation, citing intelligence from Polish services and allies indicating possible sabotage or armed incursions in early November. The prime minister said he had also received warnings about possible escalation from NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe during a visit to Warsaw in October.
Accusations of Russian Meddling in Domestic Dispute
Tusk accused Russia of trying to foment instability in Poland by interfering in a dispute between the government and President Karol Naworcki over the Constitutional Tribunal. Russian officials, including Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev, have described the government’s actions in the tribunal dispute as a “coup.” Tusk said Russian-backed politicians and demonstrators are fueling tensions to undermine Poland’s internal stability.
